Just a point, your regional licence grade is carried forward to national level i.e. if this year you finish high enough in the Scottish Regional Championship to gain a F2 licence then you'll be an F2 for next years regionals & nationals.
The only licence grade you cannot ascertain through regional competition is a F1 licence, this can only be gained at national level.
Ross Irwin & myself (john Allan) are F3's for this year as we were F1.9's (national F2) & we have been demoted year on year from F1.9 to F2 & now to F3. Everyone else within the current Scottish region is a F5 this year. That will change next year once the final positions have been finalized in the Scottish regional championship 2010.
Hope this clarifies some things
John Allan